Hydroxy ether carboxylates

ABSTRACT

Hydroxy ether carboxylates represented by the formula   WHEREIN A is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; M is alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium or alkanol ammonium and Rx is   N BEING AN INTEGER FROM 4 TO 10 AND Rz being hydrogen, alkyl, phenyl, phenyl alkyl, alkoxy alkyl, alkoxy phenyl, alkoxy phenyl alkyl or -COOM are useful as complexing agents and/or detergency builders. The ester and acid forms of these compounds are useful as intermediates for their preparation.

Unite States Patent [191 Lannert June 3,1975

[ HYDROXY ETHER CARBOXYLATES [75] Inventor: Kent P. Lannert, Freeburg, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 426,158 5 [52] U.S. CI. 260/535 P; 252/132; 252/142; 252/156; 252/180; 260/343.6; 260/473 A;

260/484 P; 260/50l.l; 260/501.l7; 260/514 [51] Int. Cl. C07C 59/12 [58] Field of Search 260/535 P, 501.1, 501.17, 260/343.6, 514 K, 484 P, 521 P [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 785,632 12/1972 Belgium 260/535 P 2,248,708 4/1973 Germany 260/535 P Primary Examiner-Lorraine A. Weinberger Assistant ExaminerPaul J. Killos Attorney, Agent, or FirmThomas N. Wallin; J. E. Maurer; Neal E. Willis [5 7] ABSTRACT Hydroxy ether carboxylates represented by the formula Y COOM (IJOOM wherein A is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; M is alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium or alkanol ammonium and Rx is ester and acid forms of these compounds are useful as intermediates for their preparation.

5 Claims, N0 Drawings HYDROXY ETI-IER CARBOXYLATES BA(.KGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventi -m relates to novel hydroxy ether carboxylate salts useful as complexing agents and/or detergency builders and toe-ster and acid forms of such compounds useful as intermediates for their preparation.

The utility of compounds characterized by the ability to complex various metal and alkaline earth metal ions (particularly ions such as calciuin ions which contribute to hardness" of water) in aqueous media and/or provide, in combination with various detergent surfactants, detergent formulations o'f-enhanced cleansing ability is well recognized by those skilled in the art. Such compounds are used in water treating applications (e.g. to fisoftenflwatefl and/or as detergency builders.

Although many cornpounds having complexing and- /or detengency builder functionality are known. the

provision of novel compounds composed of onlycarbon, hydrogen and oxygen and having such functionality is desirable. v

. SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide novel eompounds useful as com plexing agents and/or detergency builders and intermediates for the synthesis of such compounds.

The compounds of this invention are hydroxy ether polycarboxylic acids, salts and esters whose structure, synthesis, and use will be understood fromthe followingidescription' of the preferred embodiments.

'coox wherein R is I, l coon,

In theabove formula; A is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; M is alkali metal, ammonium. alkyl ammonium containing one to four arbonatoms or alka nol ammonium containing one to four carbon atoms; X is M when R is COOM 5 l Q- x...

' coon Ill and is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from one to carbon atoms when R is \C I COOR .R' is hydrogen or alkyl group containing from one to ZOcarbon atoms; Rx is c-- c l l R2 R2 n being an integer from 4 to 10, R2 is hydrogen. alkyl, phenyl, phenyl alkyl, alkoxy alkyl, alkoxy phenyl, alkoxyphenyl alkyl or COOX', and the total number of carbon atoms in Rx is from two to '22." The above definitions of the moieties constituting the compounds of this invention are intended as individual rather than collective. That is, for example, all Rz substituents need not be identical.

Hereinafter in this application, parenthetical subscripts e, a or s may be used to indicate that the ester, acid or saltforms, respectively, of various moieties are intended. For example, the designation Rz(e) indicates that if R2 is COOX, X will be an alkyl group.

It will be apparent that the compounds in which R is COOM Ho -Rx-c coon are salt forms of the compounds of this invention whereasthe compounds wherein R is JlOOR are the acid (R, and X are hydrogen) or ester (R and X are alkyl groups) forms.

The salt forms are useful as complexing agents for metal and alkaline earth metal ions and/or as detergency builders. The ester and acid forms are useful as intermediates for preparation of the salts.

In general, those compounds wherein Rx is.

(FOONa tiOONa no'-cH2cH2'- c- CH2 COONa.

forms a monohydrate. Accordingly, the claims hereinafter presented to the compounds disclosed herein are intended to encompass both hydrated and unhydrated forms thereof.

To prepare the ester forms of the compounds of this invention, an epoxide of the formula is reacted with a malonic ester of the formula (II) C0OR1 (e) alkali metal eH booime) Epoxides containing the Rx moiety desired for the compound being synthesized can be prepared by known techniques described. for example. in Weissberger, Heteroevclic CompoundsniI/z Three and Four Member-ed Rings, Part One, pages 1-523. (Interscience Publishers, l964) and Maliworskii, Epoxides and Their Derivatives (Daniel Davey and Co., Inc., I965) and the various references cited in these publications.

The reaction is conveniently conducted in a mutual solvent for the epoxide (I) and ester (II) which is not adversely reactive with these reactants or the reaction product (the alcohol corresponding to the ester ([1) is generally satisfactory) at a temperature of from 0 to 60 C. preferably 40 to 45 C.

The reaction yields C alkali metal I cooR1(e) which is acidified (preferably with acetic acid) to yield This compound (IV) is bromonated or chlorinated with elemental bromine or sulfuryl chloride to yield a halolactone t l l c'ooRl (e) i i (Z is bromine or chlorine). The halolactone (V) is reacted usually at temperatures of 0 to l()() C in solvent for (V) which is not adversely reactive with reactants or reaction products (e.g. tetrahydrofuran. ether. etc.) with an alkali metal salt (v1) C[2OOX(e) alkali 'metal- O- C -A (which is prepared by reaction of an a-hydroxy ester of desired structure with alkali metal or alkali metal hydride in an inert medium such as tetrahydrofuran, ethyl ether. etc.. which is a solvent for the a-hydroxy ester) to yield theester form of the compounds of this invention.

4 N W C O- CH-A 0on1 (e) Alternately. the halolactone can be converted to a salt I I COOR (e) by treating the halolactone (V) with alkali metal hydroxide in an alcoholic or aqueous medium to yield (I100 alkali metal HOC- C- C- OH (x) cooR,,(e)

(at ()l()0 C in a solvent for (X) which is not adversely reactive with reactants or reaction products, e.g., tetrahydrofuran, ethyl ether, etc.) to yield the ester form (VII) of the compounds of this invention.

The alkali metal salt forms of the compounds of this invention are prepared either by saponifying the ester forms or neutralizing the acid forms with an alkali metal hydroxide.

The salt can be converted to the acid by treatment with a strong acid, e.g., HCl, H SO, or a strong acid ion exchange resin.

The ammonium and alkanol ammonium salt forms of the invention are obtained by treating the acid with ammonia, an alkyl amine, alkanol amine or hydroxides thereof.

The mechanism of epoxide ring opening in the above described processes will favor formation of products wherein the R2 groups attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the heterocyclic oxygen (and, ultimately, the hydroxy group) are of larger spatial configuration than the R2 groups attached to the next carbon atom. However, all possible products will be formedThat is, if the epoxide C, C- CH-CH 5 11 O .3

and the a-hydroxy ester salt COOC H N CH2 are utilized in the above described reactions, the salt product of the invention ultimately obtained will be a mixture of a major proportion of COONa.

and a minor proportion of HO- ca ca 0 0 CH2 COONa.

such mixtures may be utilized as such or separated by conventional techniques.

The hydroxy ether polycarboxylate salts of this invention are useful as agents for complexing metal and- /or alkaline earth metal ions in aqueous media. The amount of polycarboxylate required to effectively complex the ions in a given system will depend, to some extent, on the particular polycarboxylate salt being used and the particular metal or alkaline earth metal ions in the aqueous media. Generally, complexing is more effective in basic solution. Optimum conditions and amounts of complexing agent can readily be determined by routine experimentation.

The hydroxy ether polycarboxylate salts are also useful as builders in detergent formulations. Generally, the use of the alkali metal salts, particularly the sodium salt is preferred. However, in some formulations (such as liquid formulations where greater builder solubility is required) the use of ammonium or alkanol ammonium salts may be desirable.

The detergent formulations will contain at least 1% by weight and preferably at least 5% by weight of the hydroxy ether polycarboxylate salts of this invention. In order to obtain the maximum advantages of the builder compositions of this invention, the use of from 5% to of these polycarboxylate salts is particularly preferred. The hydroxy ether polycarboxylate salt compounds of this invention can be the sole detergency builder or these compounds can be utilized in combination with other detergency builders which may constitute from 0 to 95% by weight of the total builders in the formulation. By way of example, builders which can be employed in combination with the novel builder compounds of this invention include water soluble inorganic builder salts such as alkali metal polyphosphates, i.e., the tripolyphosphates and pyrophosphates, alkali metal carbonates, borates, bicarbonates and silicates and water soluble organic builders including amino polycarboxylic acids and salts such as alkali metal nitrilotriacetates, cycloalkane polycarboxylic acids and salts, other ether polycarboxylates, alkyl polycarboxylates, epoxy polycarboxylates, tetrahydrofuran polycarboxylates such as l,2,3,4 or 2,2,5,5 tetrahydrofuran tetracarboxylates, benzene polycarboxylates, oxidized starches, amino (trimethylene phosphonic acid) and its salts, diphosphonic acids and salts (e.g., methylene diphosphonic acid; l-h'ydroxy ethylidene diphosphonic acid) and the like.

The detergent formulations will generally contain from 5% to 95% by weight total builder (although greater or lesser quantities may be employed if desired) which, as indicated above, may be solely the hydroxy ether polycarboxylate salt compounds of this invention or mixture of such compounds with other builders. The total amount of builder employed will be dependent on the intended use of the detergent formulation, other ingredients of the formulation, pH conditions and the like. For example, general laundry powder formulations will usually contain 20% to 60% builder; liquid dishwashing formulations l 1% to 12% builder; machine dishwashing formulations 60% to builder.

Optimum levels of builder content as well as optimum mixtures of builders of this invention with other builders for various uses can be determinedby routine tests in accordance with conventional detergent formulation practice.

The detergent formulations will generally contain a water soluble detergent surfactant although the surfactant ingredient may be omitted from machine dishwashing formulations. Any water soluble anionic. nonionic, zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactant can be employed.

Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include soaps such as the salts of fatty acids containing about nine to 20 carbon atoms, e.g., salts of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow; alkyl benzene sulfonatesparticularly linear alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from 10 to 16 carbon atoms; alcohol sulfates; ethoxylated alcohol sulfates; hydroxy alkyl sulfonates; alkyl sulfates and sulfonates; olefin sulfonates; alkenyl sulfonates; monoglyceride sulfates; acid condensates of fatty acid chlorides with hydroxy alkyl sulfonates'and the like.

Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include alkylene oxide (e.g., ethylene oxide) condensates of mono and polyhydroxy alcohols, alkyl phenols, fatty acid amides, and fatty amines; amine oxides; sugar derivatives such as sucrose monopalmitate; long chain tertiary phosphine oxides; dialkyl sulfoxides, fatty acid amides, (e.g., mono or diethanol amides of fatty acids containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms), and the like.

Examples of suitable zwitterionic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium compounds such as 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N- hexadecylammonio) propane-l-sulfonate and 3-(N,Nf dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-2-hydroxy propanel-sulfonate.

Examples of suitable amphoteric surfactantsinclude betains, sulfobetains and fatty acid imidazole carboxylates and sulfonates.

It will be understood that the above examples of surfactants are by no means comprehensive and that numerous other surfactants are known to those skilled in the art. It will be further understood that the choice and use of surfactants will be in accordance with well understood practices of detergent formulation. For example; anionic surfactants, particularly linear alkyl benzene s'ulfonate are preferred for use in general laundry formulations, whereas low foaming nonionic surfactants are preferred for use in machine dishwashing formulations.

The quantity of surfactant employed in the detergent formulations will depend on the surfactant chosen and the end use of the formulation. In general. the formulations will contain from 5% to 50% surfactant by weight. although as much as 95% or more surfactant may be employed if desired. For example, general laundry powder formulations normally contain 5% to 50%, preferably to surfactant: machine dishwashing formulations .5% to 5%; liquid dishwashing formulations 20% to 45%. The weight ratio of surfactant to builder will generally be inthe range of from 1:12 to 2: 1.

In addition to builder and surfactant components. detergent formulations may contain fillers such as sodium sulfate and minor amounts of bleaches. dyes, optical brighteners, soil anti-redeposition agents, perfumes and the like.

ln machine dishwashing compositions'the surfactant will be a low-foaming nonionic or anionic, preferably nonionic surfactant which will constitute 0 to 5% of the formulation I I I The term low-foaming surfactant connotes a surfactant which. in the foaming test described below, reduces the revolutions of the washer jet-spray arm during the wash and rinse cycles less than 15%, preferably less than 10%. g f

I In the foaming test, 1.5 grams of surfactant is added to a 1969 Kitchen-Aid Home Dishwasher, Model No. K0546, manufactured by Hobart Manufacturing Company which is provided with means for counting revolutions of the washer jet-spray arm'during wash and rinse cycles. The machine is operated using distilled water feed at a machine entran ce temperature of 40 C. The number of revolutions of the jetspray arm during the wash and rinsecycles is counted. The results are compared with those obtained by operation of the machine using no surfactant charge, and the percentage decrease in number of revolutions is determined.

The surfactant should, of course, be compatible with the .chlorine containing 7 component hereinafter. discussed. Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethoxylated alcohols (both monoand di-hydroxy alcohols), polyox-yalkylene .glycols, aliphatic polyethers and the like. The widely commercially utilized condensates of polyoxypropylene glycols having molecular weights of from about l',400'to 2,200 with ethylene oxide (the ethylene oxide constituting 5 to 35 weight percent of the condensate) are, for example, advantageously used in the machine dishwashing formulations ofthis invention.

Suitable low-foaming anionic surfactants include alk'yldiphenyl ether sulfonates such as sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disu lfonates and alkyl naphthalene sul fonates.

Mixtures of suitable low-foaming surfactantscan be utilized if desired.

In addition, machine'dishwashing formulations will contain sufficient chlorine providing compound to provide 0.5% to 2% available chlorine. For example, the formulation may contain from 0.5% to '5%, preferably 1% to 3% of a chlorocyanurate or from 10% to 30% chlorinated trisodium phosphate. Suitable chlorocyanurates are sodium and potassium dichlorocyanurate; [(mono-trichloro) tetra-(mono-potassium dichloro)] penta-isocyanurate; (mono-trichloro) (monopotassium dichloro) di-isocyanurate.

Machine dishwashing compositions should additionally contain from 5% to 30% soluble sodium silicate having an SiO- to Na O mole ratio of from 1:1 to 3.2:] preferably about 2.4:1 to inhibit corrosion of metal parts of dishwashing machines and provide over-glaze protection to fine china.

Machine dishwashing compositions will generally contain at least l0%, preferably at least 20% builder, up to a maximum of about builder. The new builder compounds of this invention should constitute at least 5% of the weight of the machine dishwashing formulation in order to obtain the fu'll'effects of their inherent characteristics.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, wherein all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. 1

EXAMPLE I Metallic sodium (44 grns.) is added to 900 ml. ethanol after which 320 g'ms. ofdiethyl malonate is added to form an ethanol slurry ofsodium diethyl malonate. A solution of 88 gms. ethylene. oxide in 300 ml. ethanol is added to the slurry, thetemperature being maintained between 40-45 C, to form a slurry of ooca oa Following addition thc'ethylene oxide, the slurry is stirred for lhours, at room temperature after which 120 ml. of glacial acetic acid is added to form i o I I co'ocacas The ethanol is removed under reduced pressure. 500

ml. water is added to dissolve the sodium acetate and the organic phase is separated, dissolved in ether, washed with water, dried over MgSOg-CaSO, and the ether evaporated.

Sixty-six grams of ase c-B is dissolved in 75 ml. carbon tetrachloride-and bromine added at reflux temperature to form COOCHQCHa which is separated by evaporatingthe chloroform, dissolving in' 'ether and washing witl1'5F/( Nal'lCOg, saturated and water after which the ethereal solution 5 is dried and the ether evaporated."

Forty grams of ethyl glycolate in 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran is added to a slurry of about 86 gms. sodium hydride in 300 ml. tetrahydrofuran and the mixture stirred for l hourat about C to form a slurryof (\IOOCHzCHs NaO-CHz 20 azc c This slurry is cooledto about 10 C and a solution of 84 gms.

H2(:/ K 0 (I -Br COO/Gilli? in ml. tetrahydrofuran' is added, the temperature being maintained at about 10 C. After 1 hour, the temperature is raised to 25C and maintained at that level for 14 hours. The tetrahydrofuran is evaporated, the

15 residue diluted with ether and washed with water.

dried, and the ether evaporated. The residue is distilled, the product $OOCH2CH3 being collected at l23-125 C/0.l mm Hg.

EXAMPLE ll A solution of 37 gms. of

o o 1120 c COOCHzCHs C 0-- CH2 coocazcas in 45 ml. ethanol is added slowly to 75 gms. of an aqueous 25% sodium hydroxide solution maintained below 40 40 C with an ice bath. The mixture is then stirred for about 4 hours at about 25 C and an aqueous solution of i 'COONa. COONa.

I H0032 CH C 0- CH .COONa EXAMPLE in A 25% aqueous solution of CIIOONa. CIOONa HOCH CHg- C O--CH COONa.

is passed through a column packed with strong acid ion and lXZ gms. of exchange resin (sulfonated polystyrene marketed by Fisher Scientific Company under the trademark Rexyn a s 10]) to yield 5 NaCH O O i l 1120 c (2001i I OOCZHS l H2 C- O CH2 followed by acidification and bromination in accorl COOH dance with the procedure of Example I. Stirring [40 gms. of

which is reacted with ammonium hydroxide to yield C H O COONH4 cioomu, c (Ii HO CH CH C O-- CH H (II-Br 00am, I 00002115 EXAMPLE IV with 350 gms. of aqueous KOH at a temperature I I of 40-45 C for about 24 hours yields the salt Detergent formulations containing 25%, 37.5%, and 50%, 25 C H $00K COONa COONB. HOC--r CH (I) OH 11001120112 c O-CH2 H; I COOK COONa which is esterlfied to the hydroxy ester lactone 17% linear alkylbenzene sulfonate having an average 2 5 O o C molecular weight of about 230, o /c sodium silicate and CHSC a quantity of sodium sulfate sufficient to equal 100% I are prepared. Those formulations are found to clean H2 cotton and polyester/cotton fabrics substantially more effectively than otherwise identical compositions in COOC H which the 40 COONa. COONa l by conventional esterificatlon techniques and purified HOCH CH C-- O CH by vacuum distillation.

l Seventy-two gms. of

COONa.

3 31 is replaced with a filler, sodium sulfate. I CH C- 0 EXAMPLE V The compound HZC C CH ilOOC H fa s 0 CH 0 C/ in 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran is added to a slurry of about I 8.0 gms. of sodium hydride in 300 ml. tetrahydrofuran H2 C Br and the mixture stirred for 1 hour at 3Q-35 C to form OOCZHS a slurry of I I I CZHS is prepared by reacting 86 gms. of I O O cnac c CH HzC- C- ONa C H Q C 2 o v I 7.0002115 This slurry is cooled to about 10 C and a solution of 56 gms. of ethyl bromoacetate in 50 ml. tetrahydrofuran is added, the temperature being maintained at about l0 C. After 1 hour. the temperature is raised to 25 C and maintained at that level for IR hours The tetrahydrofuran is evaporated. the residue diluted with ether and washed with water dried. and the ether evaporated. The product,

C2H5 crt b o\ a cooczn H CO--CH2 is purified by vacuum distillation.

Treatment of this ester with sodium hydroxide according to the procedures of Example ll yields the salt which is an effective sequestrant.

lt will be recognized that other compounds of the invention can be prepared by procedures analogous to those described in Examples I and V. For example,

using the epoxide shown in column 1 of Table l below and the a-hydroxy ester salt (if the procedure of Example l is followed) or the a-bromo ester (if the procedure of Example V is followed) shown in column 2 saponifying the ester obtained with sodium hydroxide in accordance with the procedure of Example II will yield the salt shown in column 3.

HELL mm EPOXIDE 2BR0l l ESTER PRODUCT SALT @cn cn iCOOCgH cooaa COONa NaOCH H0CHCH CO- H2 doom and

Q COONa COONa HO- CH2 nt-(i o H2 COONa CH3 CH O Cl-lg coocan (1H3 COONa. (200m Y NaOCI-I2 HO CH-CH2 c 0 CH2 i I COONa.

and

5; CH3 COONa. COONa Hocit2 cnc 0 H2 OONa.

CH3CH\-0/CH 000C23 (ma coon; COONa.

NaO H- CH3 HO-CH- CH2--- 0- o -CH--CH3 COONa.

and

- TABLE I -Continued E-HYDROXY ESTER SALT i QR EPOXIDE Z-BROMO ESTER PRODUCT SALT Y 3- CH-CH (llOONa COONa HO -CH2--CH- C O -l3l-l;

COONa CH CH cooczn cna-ca-cns (zoom ClOONa 1H d CH2 BiCHz HO C -CH2C O CH2 I lZH CH COONa.

and

CH -CH-CH3 (IJOONa COONa HO-CH2- C- O- H H3 COONa CH CH COOC H (2H (l/H COONa COONa 3 l3 BrCHz H0-C-C-(;--OCH2 l 0 l (LE3 CH3 COONa, CH3 3 v (CH2) clzooczns (CH (.JOONa COONa. v H Bar-43H HOCC-C--0---CH2 H C o C I 2 COONe.

All salt products shown in the Table are effective se- COOM questrantsv l What is claimed is: 40 HORXC 1. Compounds represented by the formula L 00M COOX and X is hydrogen or analkyl group containing from R---O -CH-A one to 20 carbon atoms when R is wherein R is selected from the rou consistin of 0 g P g C I i x so KM HO-Rx(|3 lroonl;

COOM R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and and alkyl groups containing from one to 20 carbon atoms; and Rx is selected from the group consisting of I Rx CH2 )n I H H- COOR n being an integer from 4 to 10, and

A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen. (6 methyl and ethyl; M is selected from the group consist- Rz Rz ing of alkali metal. ammonium. alkyl ammonium con I I taining one to four carbon atoms and alkanol ammo- (3.... C

nium containing one to four carbon atoms; X is M I A when R is R2 2 27 28 R2 being selected from the group consisting of hydroand the remaining R7. suhstitucnts are hydrogen or gen, alkyl, phenyl, phenyl alkyl. alkoxy alkyl. alkoxy alkyl groups containing from one to 20 carbon atoms. phenyl, alkoxy phenyl alkyl and COOX the total 3. Qompounds according to claim 2 wherein all R2 ber of carbon atoms in Rx being from two to 22. t uents are hydrogen.

2 Compounds according to claim 1 wherein RX is 4. A compound according to claim 3 wherein A is hydrogen. Rz R2 5. A compound represented by the formula I C M m COONa COONa l E2 Rz I HOCH CH2-C O-CH COONa. and one R2 substltuent on a carbon not attached to an hydroxy group or a heterocyclic oxygen is hydrogen 5 

1. COMPOUNDS REPRESENTED BY THE FORMULA
 1. Compounds represented by the formula
 2. Compounds according to claim 1 wherein Rx is
 3. Compounds according to claim 2 wherein all Rz substituents are hydrogen.
 4. A compound according to claim 3 wherein A is hydrogen. 